I'm not/haven't been a smoker, but appreciate the anecdotal reassurance that the urge to smoke doesn't have to be something that lingers with people who quit.
I think you see similar things with alcohol addiction. As I understand, AlAnon has the philosophy that people are lifetime alcoholics, even if they haven't drank in years. Perhaps that is true for some, but the tendency to sensationalize that into a universal truism seems like it does more harm than good.
That said, negative habits and motivation are odd things. In support of those on the other end of the spectrum, where being told "You can just do it, use your grit and resolve and don't dwell," can lead to feelings of inadequacy and failure when it isn't so easy for them, well there's no one right path to growth and change. Just don't lose hope and keep looking for what works for you.